Reputation Management

When organisations contemplate change programs, great thought is given to the redesign of processes, the financial impact, and – one would hope – the human impact. However, often overlooked is the impact change will have on an organisation’s reputation, especially when surrounded by the negative commentary of affected stakeholders.

The media has highlighted this issue in recent weeks, as disgruntled employees flocked to social media channels with tweets and posts relating to their lack of engagement with the organisations and managers who employ them. It seems reasonable to assume that this activity is not wise; as Leigh Johns Australia’s Fair Work Commissioner stated ‘using social media to telegraph to the world your dissatisfaction is #dumbbehaviour’. But why do some employees deem it necessary to express their feelings to the world? The answer – uncertainty.